track list:

Botanic Gardens

1. Greesh

2. Banff

3. The Island

The Kibble Palace

4. A Gee Gee

University Café, Byres Road

5. Pie, Beans and Chips

Kelvingrove Bandstand

6. A Chuddering Wingspoon

Centre for Contemporary Arts W.C.

7. Toilet Paper

8. Chootz n Belly Bean

Bus number 66

9. Glasgow Streets

10. Porcelain Panties

Crosshill Shul

11. Kropotkin

Queen's Park Station

12. Chutz version 1

13. Isosceles Fish

14. Pants

Hampden Park (Scottish Cup Final)

15. Hector Plectrum

16. Pie, Beans and Chips/Conception

Pollokshaws East Railway Stn.

17. Chuddering Wingspoon(sad)

18. Festering Dagworth

19. Purple Poops

20. In the Kridgeon of Blenkies

Studio  London N16

21. Chuddering Wingspoon

22. A Gee Gee

23. A Plunky Plunky Pie

24. Inflation

25. Toberry

26. Djingery Wingpuss

27. Eagle, Tits and Lemon

28. Festering Dagworth (instrumental)

29. Rome

30. A Recipe (trad.)

31. Chootz n Belly Bean

32. E

33. Meaningless is Good

ivor kallin - voice               john bisset - guitar

I returned to my home town, Glasgow in Spring 2004, to attend the stonesetting of my late uncle, Lionel Levy, husband of Hannah Frank (99).

John accompanied me to record some poems in situ around the city.

The train up was crowded with Celtic fans, and we realised that we were heading for Glasgow on the day of the Cup Final. ’Twas then the idea of recording at Hampden Park whilst the game was in progress, came to my head, my stupid head.

Staying in Kelvingrove, we headed off via the Botanic Gardens and Kelvingrove Park, down Byres Road to the University Café, then south to Govanhill where my granny used to live, to record outside what was Crosshill Shul (every week my granny would ask of my mum, “Where’s the boys?”), up to the Roman campsite at Queen’s Park, on through to Strathbungo, to Shawlands, land of the queer folk, lunch at the Minard Road Café, on up to the railway station by Pollok  Football Club, where I spent many a Saturday afternoon in my youth (the football, not the station), and on to Hampden to catch the Cup Final as Dunfermline took the lead, short-lived, against Celtic.

Whilst out west, we popped into the Centre for Contemporary Arts on Sauchiehall Street, formerly the Third Eye Centre, to record in the toilet, when in walks Hugh Davies (former Stockhausen alumnus and member of Music Improvisation Company). We interrupted our recording of Toilet Paper to allow Hugh to relieve himself. No eyelids were batted.

At some point in the proceedings, we boarded a 66 bus and sat upstairs at the back, hoping not to attract much attention. We put paid to the old adage, ‘The back of the bus, they cannae sing’

It is not recommended that devotees of this project attempt to recreate this sojourn, especially if reciting the poetry. Firstly, the route is jumbled tae fuckerie, and secondly, we escaped injury and would feel guilty if your fate was less unscatheful.

Glasgow remains a source of great inspiration, and still to this day nobody else says nib, nib and shpuddy.

Thanks to Kate and Michael for the salubrious accommodation.

This is dedicated to the memory of Angela Brice, Hugh Davies and Karlheinz Stockhausen.

And well done to Jenny for reaching 50 just before me.

The second half of the CD was recorded in John’s home in Stoke Newington, and is slightly more composed.

                                                Ivor Kallin     February 2008